Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra stated that the party is currently prioritizing preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and has ruled out any plans for 'Operation Lotus' in the state. This declaration came in response to statements made by Congress MLA Laxman Savadi, who revealed that he faced significant pressure to join the BJP but affirmed his decision to resist.
Vijayendra was addressing the media's questions about whether the BJP would target Congress MLA Laxman Savadi, especially considering the return of former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to the saffron camp after a brief association with the Congress. Savadi, a former Karnataka deputy chief minister, shifted allegiance from the BJP to the Congress last year before the 2023 Assembly polls. Despite Shettar's return, Savadi made it clear on Thursday that he had no intentions of re-joining the BJP.
While talking on BJP's preparations for the upcoming general elections, Vijayendra said: "It would sound funny if I say that the BJP would win all 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. But there is a BJP wave in the state. We will welcome those who come to the party and agrees to the ideology of the BJP, and accepts Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.”
“There is no question of outsiders and insiders. The high command will finalise the candidates for the Parliamentary elections,” he said.
Responding to inquiries about the Mandya seat dispute, where both JD-S and Independent sitting MP Sumalatha Ambareesh are eager to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Vijayendra mentioned having spoken to Sumalatha over the phone and planning to meet her soon. He also expressed intentions to discuss the matter with former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.
Vijayendra clarified that he has not yet engaged in a conversation with mining baron-turned-politician Gali Janardhana Reddy.